Phillips leads Fever past Mystics

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Erin Phillips exploded for a season-high 19
points and Jessica Davenport chipped in 14 and grabbed nine rebounds Friday,
leading the Indiana Fever to a 66-53 win over the lowly Washington Mystics at
the Verizon Center.

The Fever, owners of the second playoff seed in the Eastern Conference, won
for the first time in their last four contests, and now trail the first-place
Connecticut Sun by three games.

Tamika Catchings, who heading into the night was the Fever's leader in scoring
and rebounding with 17.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, contributed nine
points, five rebounds and four assists.

Phillips, a career 6.7 points-per-game scorer, connected on six of her team-
high 18 shots, going 2-for-5 on threes and 5-for-5 from the foul line.

Monique Currie led the Mystics -- losers of 12 straight -- in scoring,
netting 16 points and five rebounds, and Jasmine Thomas contributed 11 points
and three rebounds. From behind the arc, Thomas was 3-for-8 on the night.

Though 16 wins separate the two teams, the Mystics came out of the gate
fighting, keeping pace with the Fever all through the first half of play and
actually leading by five with two minutes left in the first.

After being down three points after one quarter of play, Indiana used a
16-11 scoring advantage in the second quarter to take a two point lead at the
half.

The Fever extended their lead to eight, going on a 9-3 run early in the third,
to go up 37-29 halfway through the quarter. But the Mystics fought back,
getting back to within four on a Thomas three-pointer and free throw from
Ashley Robinson.

A 3-pointer from Jeanette Pohlen, however, and two foul shots by Phillips
extended the Fever's lead to 10, and at the end of the third they led, 52-40.

That proved to be all the padding Indiana needed, as Washington never climbed
back within seven from that point forward.